A Special Tribute to the Pilots of Our IC Community –Alumni and Parents

Since Israel began bombarding Beirut’s southern suburbs, the pilots of Lebanon’s national air carrier, MEA, have risen as our true heroes—symbols of resilience and courage in the face of unimaginable peril.

One by one, foreign commercial airlines suspended their flights to Lebanon. Yet MEA, with its iconic cedar-emblazoned tails, refused to abandon its mission. With hearts pounding, we watched the majestic planes take off and land against a backdrop of fire and smoke that blackened the Beirut skyline. Each ascent and descent filled us with both awe and dread as we silently prayed that they wouldn’t cross the path of a missile or that the runway wouldn’t be the next target.

We cannot even fathom the immense stress and fear these pilots endure with every flight. Yet, they persist, putting their lives on the line to help countless others find safety.

The IC community stands in admiration and gratitude for these extraordinary individuals, the MEA leadership, and support staff. The simple words “thank you” fall short of capturing the depth of our appreciation, but in the absence of a better phrase: we salute you.